The Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC, better known as Etisalat, a prominent telecom giant in the UAE and globally ranked as the 18th largest mobile network operator, has fallen victim to the Lockbit ransomware group.
The attack, which occurred on February 16, 2024, has seen sensitive data belonging to Etisalat uploaded onto the Lockbit website, with the cybercriminals demanding a substantial $100,000 ransom for its security. Despite the urgency imposed by Lockbit, Etisalat has not yet confirmed or responded to the cyberattack, leaving millions of subscribers and stakeholders in a state of uncertainty about the potential consequences.
The ransomware group, Lockbit, has set a deadline of April 16, 2024, intensifying the urgency for Etisalat to address the situation promptly. With the threat of data leaks looming, the lack of a confirmed response from the telecom giant heightens concerns among stakeholders and emphasizes the critical need for transparency and communication in the face of cyber threats.
This incident underscores the evolving sophistication of cybercriminals and highlights the vulnerability of even the most prominent organizations to such attacks.
